Suspension file support frame



Dec. 5, 1967 w. T. WOODHOUSE 3,356,228

SUSPENSION FILE SUPPORT FRAME Filed Aug. 20, 1965 I INVENTOR M William T. Woodhouse Fl G .4.

1D MLW, MwQmgy ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,356,228 SUSPENSION FILE SUPPORT FRAME William T. Woodhouse, 5161 Macomb St. NW., Washington, D.C. 20016 Filed Aug. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 481,320 3 Claims. (Cl. 211-45) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure of this invention pertains to a device in which friction is employed to lock file support members against undesired movements.

The present invention relates to a suspension file support frame and has for an object to provide a support structure for file support members which structure will not only support the file support members but which structure will frictionally clamp the file support members and lock itself against backing off and sliding along the file support members.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a file support frame which may be locked in place and slid along to fit any size file drawer and may be rigidly locked to file support members and without employing any tools on the part of the secretary and which will be locked against fortuitous backing off or sliding.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the suspension file support frame of the present invention showing a foldable file support thereon.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top elevational view of the support member, spacer member and locking jaw with the locking jaw actuating means in seated position.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section with parts shown broken away and parts shown in section and dotted line taken on the line 3-3 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and for the moment to FIGURE 1, designates a foldable file having rail engaging members 11 adapted to ride over and rest upon file support members 12. The file support members 12 are maintained at the desired elevation in a file drawer by a pair of U-shaped end support members 13. The upper free ends of the U-shaped members 13 terminate in a lower file support member engaging jaw 13 The file support members 12 are retained at their open portion by a pair of top spacer members 14 whose outer free ends terminate in a top file supporting member engaging jaw 14*.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, a jaw clamping means is shown which comprises a threaded bolt 15 having threads thereon 16 which threadedly mate with a collar 17 which bears against the top of the top spacer members 14. Each collar 17 has openings 18 therein for receiving portions or ears 19 of a clamping jaw actuating means in the form of a lever 20. Proximate the free end of the lever 20- are down-turned ears 20 which lock and seat on opposite sides of the top spacer members 14 to resist backing oif of the collar 17 so that the jaws 13 14 will frictionally grip and constrain the pair of file support members 12 against relative movement therebetween.

The jaw clamping actuating lever 20 has a cut-out portion 20 which permits the lever 20* to be raised not only to the dotted line position as shown in FIGURE 3 but also to the vertical position whereby the lever 20 will pass completely over the collar 17 so that it may be rotated without having to remove the unit from the file cabinet for making an adjustment setting.

In operation, the U-shaped end support members 13 are placed in the file cabinet drawer and the bolts 15 are passed upwardly through the jaws 13 and through the jaws 14 and the collar 17 is seated threadedly over the upper end of the bolt 15 and the lever 20 is rotated to lock the jaws 13 14 rigidly against the file support members 12 at which time the lever 20 is rocked about the ear projections 19 to the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 whereby the ear tabs 20 engage opposite sides of the top spacer support members 14 and the unit is rigidly locked in place without the need of employing any tools whatsoever. The secretary may make this adjustment herself without calling a mechanic.

Although I have disclosed herein the best form of the invention known to me at this time, I reserve the right to all such modifications and changes as may come within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A suspension file support frame comprising (a) a pair of file support members,

(b) a pair of substantially U-shaped end support members having the upper free ends of the U-shape bent outwardly and terminating in a lower file support member engaging jaw,

(c) a pair of top spacer members having their free ends terminating in a top file support member engaging J (d) jaw clamping means passing through both said support and spacer members having an operative position in which it forces the jaws into tight gripping engagement with the file support members and an inoperative position in which the jaws are free of gripping engagement with the file support members, and

(e) actuating means connected to and rotatable with said jaw-clamping means for causing movement of the jaw-clamping means to and from its operative position and including means effective to lock the jaw-clamping means in its operative position.

2. A suspension file support frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein said jaw-clamping means includes a threaded collar rotatable on a bolt and said actuating means comprises a lever operatively pivoted to said collar to rotate the collar on the bolt for moving the jaw-clamping means from one of its positions to the other of said positions and to restrain the collar from undesired movement towards the inoperative position of the jaw-clamping means.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said jawclamping means comprises a threaded bolt passed from the bottom of the bottom jaw through the top jaw and a threaded collar receivable over the threaded bolt, and said actuating means has a lever with projecting ears engaging said collar to compel rotation thereof, said lever having down-turned ears proximate its free end as the locking means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,398,962 4/ 1946 Randrup -32 2,795,130 6/1957 Pritchett 85-3 X 2,852,028 9/1958 Patterson et a1. 129-16 2,871,861 2/ 1959 Posner 129-16 3,295,697 1/1967 Patterson 211-184 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SUSPENSION FILE SUPPORT FRAME COMPRISING (A) A PAIR OF FILE SUPPORT MEMBERS, (B) A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED END SUPPORT MEMBERS HAVING THE UPPER FREE ENDS OF THE U-SHAPE BENT OUTWARDLY AND TERMINATING IN A LOWER FILE SUPPORT MEMBER ENGAGING JAW, (C) A PAIR OF TOP SPACER MEMBERS HAVING THEIR FREE ENDS TERMINATING IN A TOP FILE SUPPORT MEMBER ENGAGING JAW, (D) JAW CLAMPING MEANS PASSING THROUGH BOTH SAID SUPPORT AND SPACER MEMBERS HAVING AN OPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH ITS FORCES THE JAWS INTO TIGHT GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FILE SUPPORT MEMBERS AND AN INOPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH THE JAWS ARE FREE OF GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FILE SUPPORT MEMBERS, AND (E) ACTUATING MEANS CONNECTED TO AND ROTATABLE WITH SAID JAW-CLAMPING MEANS FOR CAUSING MOVEMENT OF THE JAW-CLAMPING MEANS TO AND FROM ITS OPERATIVE POSITION AND INCLUDING MEANS EFFECTIVE TO LOCK THE JAW-CLAMPING MEANS IN ITS OPERATIVE POSITION. 